Wood fuel market in Cameroon

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for wood fuel in Cameroon experienced steady growth from 2018 to 2023, rising from 10.5 million m³ to nearly 11 million m³. This expansion was underpinned by the government's sustained policy focus on promoting local timber processing and combating illegal logging. Key initiatives from the period included the introduction of digital traceability systems and progressively higher export duties on raw logs, which helped secure more wood within the country for domestic use.

The implementation of the SVCL mobile and web application in 2018 enhanced legal compliance in community forests, while the FILTTRE operation in 2019 strengthened export controls. In 2021, the launch of the domestic timber market platform (Mib) streamlined transactions. From 2022, a sharp increase in the log export duty to 50% and then 60% in 2023, alongside an exemption on import duties for wood processing machinery, actively discouraged raw material exports and incentivized local value addition. These measures contributed to the consistent rise in wood fuel production and market volume over the six-year period.

Production wood fuel in Cameroon

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Cameroon's wood fuel production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 10,722 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, marking a slight gain of 0.7% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 2.1%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 0.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Exports wood fuel from Cameroon

Exports in kind, m³

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Cameroon's wood fuel exports showed significant fluctuations, with the minimum value recorded in 2019 at 62 cubic meters and the maximum in 2018 at 25,626 cubic meters, resulting in a 417-fold variation between these years. In 2020, exports reached 111 cubic meters, reflecting a substantial improvement of 80.6% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 99.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018, surging by 3,071.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, Ireland was the key and almost sole market for Cameroon's wood fuel exports in kind, accounting for 94.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. Cameroon's wood fuel exports in value terms varied widely, with the minimum recorded in 2019 at 9 thousand US dollars and the maximum in 2017, showing a 379-fold gap between these years. In 2020, exports totaled 16 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp improvement of 78.0% year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2019, falling by 99.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cameroon in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017–2020 period, Belgium and Ireland were the dominant buyers of wood fuel from Cameroon in value terms, together accounting for 94.0% of total exports. Other destinations each held relatively small shares.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cameroon in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood fuel to Cameroon

Imports in kind, m³

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Cameroon's wood fuel imports in kind peaked in 2018 at 109 cubic meters and hit a trough in 2017, with a 17-fold gap between these years. In 2020, imports totaled 21 cubic meters, showing a decrease of 27.9% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 72.7%, while the largest increase was in 2018, surging by 1,582.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—China, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates—together absorbed 86.3% of total wood fuel imports in kind to Cameroon.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Cameroon's wood fuel imports in value terms reached their peak in 2018 at 53 thousand US dollars and fell to the lowest point in 2017, with an amplitude of 8.1 times between these years. In 2020, cross-border shipments reached 22 thousand US dollars, which is 55.7% less than the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, rising by 714.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cameroon in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the 2017–2020 period, China, France, and Lebanon formed the main group of destinations for Cameroon's wood fuel imports in value terms. China accounted for 40.2% of imports, France for 22.4%, and Lebanon for 9.0%, together representing a combined share of 71.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cameroon in value, 2017-2020